The U.S. Department of Education awarded a $1.2 million "Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant" to the School District of Palm Beach County. This grant will help students learn through the arts and will provide teachers with strategies that promote student achievement by integrating arts skills and knowledge into the core curriculum.
A grant priority is to enhance, expand, document, evaluate, and disseminate the arts integrated efforts of the District's Arts Education team.
Arts Integration Lab Schools 2010 - 2014
The "Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination" (AEMDD) grant focuses on two Title I elementary schools, Belvedere Elementary and Palmetto Elementary. The purpose of the AEMDD grant is to promote student achievement by integrating art skills and knowledge into the core curriculum, for students in grades K-5. The ultimate goal is to develop a replicable model through a high-quality arts integrated core curriculum, strengthened with research-based instructional strategies, incorporated with English Language Learner strategies, and sustained with effective professional development protocol. The model is based on Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for visual arts, music, dance, language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Arts Integration Pilot Schools 2007 - 2010
From 2007 to 2010, Berkshire Elementary, Egret lake Elementary, and Palmetto Elementary were part of a three year arts integration pilot program funded by the Pew Education Fund, the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, and the Florida Department of Education. This program was developed to promote student achievement through sustainable arts integration practices, quality arts instruction for students, and professional development for teachers and art providers. The goals in this project were increased student literacy and numeracy. An independent researcher, Dr. Timothy Brophy, Assistant Dean, Research and Technology at the University of Florida, conducted the evaluation for the project. His yearly evaluations at each school revealed an increase in reading and math proficiency; during the three year pilot all three schools met the federal requirements of Adequate Yearly Progress. His final report detailing the quantitative and qualitative results will be released soon.
Arts Integration Dissemination Schools
Many schools have expressed interest in implementing an arts integrated approach. Since one of the purposes of our arts integration grant is to disseminate successful strategies, techniques, and approaches, working with additional schools is one of our priorities. The following schools have either expressed interest, met with our grant team, allowed us to present an arts integration workshop for their faculty, or currently use some arts integration techniques:
Acreage Pines Elementary Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts Bak Middle School of the Arts Conniston Middle Eagles Landing Middle Hammock Pointe Elementary Hidden Oaks Elementary Heritage Elementary John I. Leonard High K.E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary North Palm Beach Elementary Plumosa Elementary School of the Arts South Grade Elementary Tradewinds Middle U.B. Kinsey Elementary School of the Arts |